Key Quotes: Curley

Question 0

At that moment a young man came into the bunk house; a thin young man with a brown face, with brown eyes and a head of tightly curled hair. He wore a work glove on his left hand, and, like the boss, he wore high heeled boots.

Answer 0

Middle, p.46
First description of Curley
‘Like the boss’ - suggests he’s related or at a similar level of hierarchy as the boss
‘High heeled boots’ - Curley’s small so he needs these to make himself taller so he can assert his authority

Question 1

He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie. His arms gradually bent at the elbows an his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch. His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious. Lennie squirmed under the look and shifted his feet nervously. Curley stepped gingerly close to him.

Answer 1

Bottom, p.46
Curley is aggressive and easily wound up
‘Coldly’ - Curley already despises G and L
‘Calculating’ - weighing L up for a fight
‘Gingerly’ - Curley feels L is threatening his position as he is taller

Question 2

“Curley’s like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys. He’s alla time picking scraps with big guys. Kind of like he’s mad at ‘em because he ain’t a big guy.”

Answer 2

Top, p.48
Candy says this
Could be foreshadowing G and L’s relationship
Curley wants to be big so he can show who’s boss

Question 3

Whit said sarcastically, “he spends half his life lookin’ for her, and the rest of the time she’s lookin’ for him.”
Curley burst into the room excitedly. “Any you guys seen my wife?” He demanded.

Answer 3

Bottom, p.80
Ironic that Curley comes in at that point
‘Excitedly/demanded’ - anxious about his wife being around other men
He’s straight to the point - rude